Electrode holder



Oct. 19, 1954 A. STRACKBEIN ET AL ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed July 21, 1951 m l E V Alex strackbez'n E clwaz'cl iHeck ArihurAHezm N INVENTORj.

BY wwv iwzw ATTORNEYS.

latented Oct. 19, 1954 ELECTRODE HOLDER Alex Strackbein, Edward S. Heck, and Arthur A. Henn, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application July 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,866

Claims.

The present invention relates to a holder for electrodes particularly as used in connection with electric arc welding.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight well-balanced electrode holder to facilitate maneuvering of the holder in welding operations and minimize fatigue of the welder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder having the live metal parts insulated to protect the operator and so that the holder may be set down in any position without danger of creating a short circuit.

Still another object is to provide a rugged electrode holder having a positively locking electrode grip and a simple efiective means of securing a welding cable within the holder.

A further object is to provide an electrode holder wherein the electrical conductor is of a hollow nature to permit air to pass therethrough and thereby cool the holder during welding operation.

Another object is to provide an electrode holder which permits the electrode to be burned down close to the holder, to an extremely short length, without danger of shorting the electric arc.

The present invention is directed to an electrode holder having a generally hollow conductor.

A welding cable is secured within the rearward end of the conductor and the forward threaded end of the conductor is engaged by a hollow insulating cap. A metal plug is disposed within the hollow cap and the welding electrode is re- I parts in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the insulating cap;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, the electrode holder of the present invention comprises a generally hollow, short, compact conductor I which is constructed of a metal having high electrical conductive properties, such as copper or a copperbase alloy.

A cylindrical terminal plug 2 is partially inserted within the open rearward end of the hollow conductor and secured therein by fillet weld 3. Terminal plug 2 is formed with a pair of noncommunicating axial recesses, comprising the forward recess 4 which registers with the hollow interior of conductor I, and the rearward recess .5 which receives the uninsulated forward end of the welding cable 6. By crimping plug 2 inwardly against the contained cable 6, as indicated by I in Figure 1, the cable is firmly secured to the terminal plug 2 and a simple, yet effective, electrical contact is thereby attained.

An insulating sleeve 8, which serves as a handle or grip, is disposed around the rearward portion of conductor I and covers the attachment of cable 6 to terminal plug 2. Sleeve 8 is secured to the conductor by a plurality of radially extending, countersunk set screws 9.

To cool the conducting elements 2 and 6 disposed within sleeve 8 so that the sleeve will be maintained at a comfortable temperature to the operator, the sleeve is radially spaced from the terminal plug 2 and is provided with a plurality of lateral cooling vents I0. Air or a similar cooling medium may circulate freely within sleeve 8 around terminal plug 2 and the attached welding cable 6.

Sleeve 8 by extending rearwardly beyond the point of attachment of cable 6 to terminal plug 2, prevents the cable from being bent excessively at the point of attachment as the electrode holder I is maneuvered during operation, thereby reducing the tendency of the cable to become frayed or worn at this point.

To provide a firmer gripping surface for th welder and hence reduce operational fatigue, the rearward portion of sleeve 8 may be formed with a generally polygonal surface.

The forward portion of conductor I is provided with an exterior thread II and a tapered tip I2. The hollow interior 'of conductor I provides a passage I3 for the circulation of a cooling medium, such as air, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced vents I4 extend obliquely through the wall of the conductor at the base of tip I2 and communicate with the forward extremity of passage I3.

In addition, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports I5 extend radially through sleeve 8, conductor I and terminal plug 2 and communicate with the recess 4 in terminal plug 2. As

hereinbefore stated, recess 4 registers with the passage l3 in conductor I.

A hollow, interiorly threaded cap or head l5 engages the threaded portion ll of conductor l. Head 16 is generally cylindrical in shape and is constructed of a durable, light-Weight insulating material-t The hollow interior of head .I 6 is: provided with an internal annular groove ll from which a plurality of transverse cooling ports [8 extend outwardly through the wall of head 16.

The vents M in conductor I register with groove I! and a cooling medium such as. air is.

free to circulate through ports I5}, recess 4;,-pas.-

sage l3, vents I4, annular groave l1: andports.

A metal clamping block la'is insertedlwithin the hollow interior of head l6 and is secured at the forward extremity of the head by dowel pin 20 which extends through suitable aligned openings inhead'. l6 andibloclc [9;

The: electrode: 2 I; iszreceiveda within; a. transverse opening 22 in head lb. Opening-'22- intersectsthei hollow interior of head. t5 and: as. the headeisthreadedontox the COIldllC-tOlTlihE electrode is: secured between. the: V'-shaped:- notch: 23: in clamping block; !9 andrthe flat. tip i2 of corrdii'ct'ozt Transverse opening, 22 preferably does;not extend completely through head l8, andithe; closed end of opening 22 serves as a stop: to position electrode 2 within-the head;

Asthe ends of dowel pin Zilare recessedfrom the outer surface of head 56 and'as-themetal block' I9 is deeply embedded the head; there are no metal parts adjacent the outer surface of head lfi wherein stray electric arcs-may be set-up to short'the electrical system. During welding operation, the portion ofthe head surrounding the opening 22, into which the-electrode 2| is-ihtroduced; is apt to be charred or'burn'ed, andi'f the metal block l9 and dowel pin' Ill-were not deeply embedded inthe insulating h'eadjthe block or the dowel pin might become' exposed by this accidental burning of the headandthereby make the holder susceptible to short circuits. However, as the metal elements I'B'and 'Z'U'in the present invention are a considerable distance from the outer'surface of hea'dflfi, thisdanger is'virtu'ally eliminated and the electrodes'carr be burned to a considerably shorter length." As the electrode may be burnedto a shorter'length, fewer electrode replacements are necessary and amore efficient weldingloperati'on results.

As thehead !6, which threadedly engages'corrductor l', is constructed of insulating material, there is no danger of the engaged threads being burned or fused together if a short circuit should occur in the holder.

It is preferred that the. external'thread's' of conductor l and the cooperating internalthreads of head [6. be left handed, sothat. the headwill tend to tighten on the conductor as, a right handed welder intermittently tapsor contacts the workpiece with the electrode to strike an. arc.

The metal clamping block 19 is. employedwithin head [6 to provide a firm,. extremely durable electrode. clamping. surface,v and," if after prolonge service; the block shoul'd'becorrre worn, burned, or otherwise damaged, the block maybe easily replaced by merely removing Zll'and without the necessity of scrapping the entire head.

The present invention. provides an electrode holder designed to increase the efiiciency of welding and minimize the fatigue of the welder. The conductor 1 being of a generally hollow nature, and the head l6 being constructed of insulatin material result in a lightweight and well-balanced holder.

In addition; an eiicctive cooling system is provided whereby air is circulated. by convection within both the handle 8 and within the hollow conductor I. This efficient cooling system prevents overheating or burning of the welders hand andreduces operational fatigue.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employedwithin the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1,. An electrode holder comprising a metallic conductor having a threaded portion at one end thereof, an insulating sleeve disposed about said conductor to provide a handle, means within said sleeve for securinga weldingmable tothe-other end of said conductor, a hollow head of insulating material adapted to engage the.- threaded portion of saidconductor, said head being formed with. atransverse opening to receive a welding electrode, and a. replaceable metallic clamping block disposed: within said hollow head, said electrode being; secured between saidclamping block and the conductor as'the head is advanced on the threaded portion of said conductor.

2; A. lightweight electrode holder comprising, a metallic conductor having. a. threaded. portion at one endthereof, tubularmeans securedto the other'end of conductor for receiving a welding cable, said; tubular means being. crimped: in.- wardly. to secure said cable therein, a.hollow' head of insulating material adapted to engage the threaded: portion of said conductor, said. head beingformedawith a, transverse openin to: r.e.- ceive: a: welding; electrode; a. replaceablemetallic clamping block disposed within said hollow-hgrdp' saidelectrode; being secured between said clamping blockand: theconductor asthe 7 head is ad.- vanced-onrthe threaded portionofi saidconductor,

' and. an insulatingasleevedisposed' about said conduetor to provide; a handle. for, the: holder;.said sleeve-being open at one;end:.andhavinglventsjor the passage of a. cooling: mediumithereinzi.

3; An electrode: holder for electricz arcz'weld. ing' comprising, a: metallici-conductor havingira threaded portion at. one end: thereof, an; insulat in'g sleeve disposed about said conductor to provide-ahandle, means within said sleeve fonsecuringa welding cable-to the. other end of said conductor, a hollow thiclt walled insulatin'g'head adapted to= engage-the tl'ireaded portion of said conductor, said head being formed with a trans verse openingto-receive-a welding-electrode, a replaceable metallic clamping block disposed within said hollow head; andretaining'means'to removably' secure said' block within" said head Wifihsaid blockandsaid retaining me'ans beihg recessed from the outer surfaces ofsaid" head to prevent exposure of said block and said retaining means due toaccidental burning 'of the head; said elect-rodebeing secured between said clamping block and the condu'ctoras the'he'ad is advanced on the threaded portion of said'conductor.

4. An electrode holder for electricarc-welding comprising a metallic" conductor having a threaded portion at the forward end thereof and a hollow interior to onduct a coolin medium and having aplurality of cooling portsadjacent the forward and rear ends communicating with the hollow interior of said conductor with the ports at the forward and extending generally longitudinally forwardly from the hollow interior of the conductor and flaring radially outwardly to effect cooling of the forward end portions of the conductor, a hollow insulating head adapted to engage the threaded portion of the conductor with the forward cooling ports in said conductor opening into the hollow interior of the engaged head, said head being formed with a transverse opening to receive a welding electrode and a plurality of coolin passages extending through the Wall of said head and communicating with the hollow interior thereof to effect passage of cooling medium from one end of the conductor to the other, said electrode being secured between the head and the conductor as said head is advanced onto the threaded portion of said conductor, means for attaching a welding cable to the rearward end of said conductor, and an insulating sleeve disposed about the rearward end of said conductor to provide a handle for the electrode holder.

5. An electrode holder comprising a metallic conductor having a threaded portion at the forward end thereof and a hollow interior to conduct a cooling medium, said conductor being formed with a plurality offorward cooling ports in the wall thereof communicating with the forward portion of the hollow interior of said conductor and a plurality of rearward cooling ports in the wall thereof communicating with the rearward portion of the hollow interior of said conductor, an insulating sleeve disposed around the rearward portion of said conductor to provide a handle, said sleeve being formed with a plurality of air vents which register With the rearward cooling ports in said conductor, a hollow insulating head adapted to engage the threaded forward portion of said conductor with the forward cooling ports in said conductor Opening into the hollow interior of the engaged head, said head being formed with a transverse opening to receive a welding electrode and a plurality of cooling passages extending through the wall of said head and communicating with the hollow interior thereof, a metallic clamping block disposed within said hollow head, said electrode being secured between said clamping block and the conductor as the head is advanced on the threaded portion of said conductor, and means for attaching a welding cable to the rearward end of said conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,274 Sweda May 24, 1938 2,247,041 Bergan June 24, 1941 ,343,799 Radabaugh Mar. 7, 1944 2,345,532 Eriksen Mar. 28, 1944 2,401,383 Wilson June 4, 1946 2,419,560 Jepson Apr. 29, 1947 2,438,840 Camilleri Mar. 30, 1948 

